HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 131-25 - Resolution - 2026 Legislative Bonding Priorities
RESOLUTION
Supporting the following Capital Investment (Bonding) projects as priorities for the
City of Rochester and take action to further pursue them: 1) Airport Parking
Infrastructure & Energy Components; 2) East Zumbro Sewer for Housing
Opportunities; 3) Planning for Civic Center Drive/South Broadway Ave;
WHEREAS, the Airport Parking Infrastructure & Energy Components would provide users
of the airport with added ability to access the airport and electric vehicle connections as well
as aligns with the City’s sustainability goals around energy; and
WHEREAS, the Airport Parking Infrastructure & Energy Components project is carrying out
part of the City and Rochester International Airport (RST) commitment to environmental
stewardship and sustainability by incorporating renewable energy into the airport campus
which will help the City meet its 100% renewable energy goal by 2030; and
WHEREAS, the Airport Parking Infrastructure & Energy Components project is expected to
generate enough electricity to cover approximately half the terminal building’s current power
needs; and
WHEREAS, the East Zumbro Sewer for Housing project would primarily focus near Silver
Lake connection with impacts to the entire southeastern part of the city, directly creating
approximately 1,000 developable acres of land; and
WHEREAS, in order to increase the available land for housing of all types, an increase of
sewer pipe capacity is needed in the East Zumbro project area; and
WHEREAS, this project will promote infill development opportunities, additional housing,
and industrial uses in the SE portion of the city; and
WHEREAS, this project could eventually include industrial users at the Rochester
International Airport and other potential opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the City’s current water reclamation plant has capacity for additional users;
WHEREAS, the sewer pipes in the city need to be upsized for additional housing and
industrial users in the city as they were originally built for a community of 120,000 population
and Rochester now exceeds this and is expected to greatly exceed this population in the
coming years; and
WHEREAS, state support for this project would allow it to happen much sooner than it would
otherwise; and
WHEREAS, Civic Center Drive/South Broadway provides gateways to the city with over
26,000+ vehicle usage each day; and
WHEREAS, there were 62 crashes in past four years, including pedestrian and bicycle
incidents on South Broadway and this segment is currently listed in MnDOT’s Vulnerable
Road User High Injury Network; and
WHEREAS, planning resources for Civic Center Drive/South Broadway would allow for a
Complete Streets opportunity for added safety and multimodal use; and
WHEREAS, there streets are a main transportation thoroughfare in the city and around
zones of economic development and high community and regional use; and
WHEREAS, if a bonding bill is part of a future special session in 2025 and projects on this
list are funded and no longer needing additional state bonding funding, this list would be
subsequently updated and the lower item would move up in the ranking; and
WHEREAS, these projects will result in benefits to both the region and residents of the
City of Rochester and to non-resident visitors and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rochester is an established regional center in Southeastern
Minnesota, with a population of 125,000, home to the State's largest employer while hosting
over three million visitors per year, 30,000 commuters per day from the region, and is a
significant tax contributor to the State of Minnesota particularly through sales, income, and
provider tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, the State’s process for capital investment projects is underway and will continue
into the 2026 legislative session.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Common Council of the City of Rochester
that the bonding priorities for 2026 are as follows: FIRST: Airport Parking Infrastructure &
Energy Components; SECOND: East Zumbro Sewer for Housing Opportunities; THIRD:
Planning for Civic Center Drive/South Broadway Ave.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA, THIS __________ DAY OF _______________, 2025.
___________________________________
PRESIDENT OF SAID COMMON COUNCIL
ATTEST: __________________________
CITY CLERK
APPROVED THIS _____ DAY OF ______________________, 2025.
___________________________________
MAYOR OF SAID CITY
(Seal of the City of
Rochester, Minnesota)